The pressure was building, but after years of watching from the sidelines, Ty Simpson finally earned what every quarterback at Alabama dreams of: the starting job.
But with that coveted role comes enormous expectations and the weight of following legendary predecessors. When offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb pulled him aside after the announcement, his message was surprisingly simple yet profound.
What Did Ryan Grubb Tell Ty Simpson About Handling the Starting Role?
From Greg McElroy and Tua Tagovailoa to Mac Jones and Jalen Milroe, Alabama continues to produce winning quarterbacks of different skill sets and abilities. Now, the mantle of responsibility falls upon Simpson. Despite playing 16 games since his freshman year at Alabama, he’s never started a game.
Instead, he waited behind Bryce Young and Milroe. To this point, Simpson completed 58% of his passes without a touchdown or interception. On the positive side, he collected three rushing touchdowns. The junior mostly saw action when the Crimson Tide put the game far out of reach.
But after waiting his turn, he earned the starting quarterback job. With that achievement came crucial guidance from his offensive coordinator. Grubb had some choice words for him about managing this transition.
“Just don’t change anything. We still have a lot of stuff to clean up. Remember what got you the job; nothing has to change. So, I think he’s just got to keep improving on the things he knows he must work on,” Grubb told the new starter.
“This is just an announcement. It’s a starting point. If you have any kind of finality to this announcement, whether you’re the backup or the starter, I think they’re going to rob themselves of some excellent opportunities,” he continued.
How Will Simpson’s Journey at Alabama Shape His Approach?
During his tenure, Simpson witnessed a whole gamut of events, from the team winning massive SEC showdowns to losing a bowl game against Michigan. Furthermore, he saw the coach who recruited him retire in January 2024.
Still, Simpson chose to stay when chances remained high that he could start instead of heading to the many Power Four and Group of Five schools that would’ve gladly accepted him.
Alabama recruits athletes that it believes are head and shoulders above the competition. With that pedigree, you’d assume that Simpson will make plays. The patient approach he’s maintained throughout his career has now become his foundation as a starter.
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Before the SEC schedule comes knocking, Simpson will enjoy getting some good in-game reps in the team’s first few games. First, the Tide travels to Florida State in a big “prove-it” game for both schools to open the season.
The following week, ‘Bama welcomes Louisiana-Monroe to Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 6. After that, Wisconsin completes the back end of the home-and-home series with Alabama in Tuscaloosa on September 13.
Things take a serious turn when Simpson starts his conference slate with a road trip to Sanford Stadium to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on September 27. This early-season showdown will provide the first major SEC test of whether Simpson can maintain the steady approach that earned him the job.
Grubb’s advice could resonate with the signal-caller because playing to his ability and staying within himself won him the job. The coordinator’s emphasis on continuous improvement rather than dramatic changes suggests Alabama wants Simpson to build confidence gradually while avoiding the pressure to reinvent himself overnight.
